“It will be wonderful afternoon of theater and art on Saturday, Feb. 4,” he said. “It’s not just the show: It will be the performance of ‘Romeo & Juliet’ — along with two exhibitions and an opening reception. We have fantastic live theater happening with the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company coming up to perform in the Fitton Family Theater, so that will be fantastic.”
“Like all of our series, we are trying to mix it up. We had great success with ‘The Secret Garden,’ which was our first production of the season. It was well received by audiences throughout the area, and we received a lot of positive feedback. And, we’ll shake things up again when we get to OTR Improv on Saturday, March 4,” MacKenzie-Thurley said.
This is a modern telling of the production with its staging, combined with the classic text of Shakespeare. It comes to life and death on stage in front of the audience.
“When you are reading a play, it’s very different from seeing a play or being in a play. You’re watching these words and actions come to life on stage, and to connect with it in a visual way is very different than reading it at a desk, or in a classroom. You can engage with the text, give it your full attention, and immerse yourself in the story. It’s a timeless classic for a reason. We keep coming back to it as a classic love story in Romeo & Juliet,” said MacKenzie-Thurley.
A free opening reception in the Fitton Center galleries at 4 p.m. for the exhibition “Wherefore Art” will immediately follow the performance of “Romeo & Juliet.”
“Wherefore Art” will be on view from Feb. 4 through March 24. The exhibition features artwork that explores personal relationships and cultural acceptance. Attendees can expect to view the lush imagined urban landscape photos of artist, Chung Chak, the emotionally evocative mixed-media sculpture by Ron Longsdorf, and a colorful group show from the artists of InsideOut Studios.
The reception on Feb. 4 will also celebrate the works of 11th- and 12th-grade students of School of the Arts: Butler Tech in the Fitton Center’s Community Gallery. Styles of art represented will include painting, drawing, and digital photography. Current and future exhibitions in the galleries are free and open to the public.
Contact this contributing writer at gmwriteon@aol.com.
How to go
What: “Romeo & Juliet,” presented by the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company
When: 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4. This is a matinee event.
Where: Fitton Family Theater, The Fitton Center for Creative Arts, 101 S. Monument Ave., Hamilton
Cost: Tickets are $20 for Fitton Center members and $25 for nonmembers. ($10 tickets are available for Badin, Hamilton High, Butler Tech School of the Arts and Miami University students and Woodlands residents.)
More info: www.fittoncenter.org or call (513) 863-8873
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